Grain separator



Dec. 28 1926.

C. J- B. VIGUERIE GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed March 28 1925 6660756666 GOOFatented Dec. 28, 1926.

UilllTED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CHARLES JEAN-BAPTISTE VIGUERIE, 9F PAR-IS, FRANCE.

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

Application filed March 28, 1925, Serial No. 19,104, and in France April9, 1924.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved grainseparator particularly utilizable for separating commingled grains orseeds with a view to sorting out one or several kinds of the said grainsor seeds from the other commingled elements.

It has previously been proposed in apparatuses of this character toseparate commingled grains or seeds by means of socketed discs OrArchimedean screw-blades made fast on a rotating shaft extendinglongitudinally through a drum'like casing in which the said grains orseeds are fed, said discs or blades dipping into their mass so as tocause the proper grains or seeds to get into the said sockets and to belifted and then dropped off and taken away by appropriate dischargingdevices, thus ensuring the required separation.

According to the invention, a grain separator pertaining to the typereferred to but having an improved structure and an increased efficiencyis provided, said separator being mainly characterized by the fact thatits separating elements have a large number of sockets or alveoli ontheir outer working faces and are constituted by ring members offrusto-conical or dished shape arranged in juxtaposed relation to oneanother externally or internally of a rotatable cylinder so as to form azig-Zag or saw-tooth shaped outline.

By this improved arrangement, the actual working surface of theseparating elements of the apparatus or, in other words, its se aratingcapacity is considerably enhanced by comparison with the capacity ofprior grain separators. Moreover the new arrangement of the juxtaposedring-shaped separating elements facilitates the getting of the propergrains into their alveoli whereby the output of the apparatus is stillfurther increased.

ther features and advantages of the improve-d grain separator accordingto this invention, particularly so far as the structure of theseparating elements and the dis charging means for the separated andunseparated grains are concerned, will incidentally appear in thefollowing description and will be more specifically pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. lis a side elevational view of a grainseparator according to the invention wherein the separating elements arearranged in juxtaposed relation externally of their supporting cylinder,the outer casing being partly broken away and the right portion of theapparatus being shown in vertical central section.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line ABCD, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view drawn to a larger scale showing the structure ofthe improved grain separating elements.

Fig. 4 is a partial front view of one of the segments formed with alarge number of alveoli of which the separating elements are made up.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of one of the alveoli, showing itsconfiguration.

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively partial sectional views on the lines EFand GH, Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing a modification of the grainseparator-according to the invention, wherein the annular separatingelements are arranged internally of their supporting cylinder.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line IJ, Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing two juxtaposedannular separating elements arranged internally of their supportingcylinder.

Like reference characters designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7inclusive, the grain separator comprises a horizontal (or, if required,slightly slanting) shaft 1 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 2 and3 carried by a suitable framework which also serves for supporting thestationary cylindrical drum-like outer casing 4l-. The shaft 1 isimparted a rotary motion by means of an outer fast pulley 5 and drivesthe cylinder 6 extending lengthwise in said casing and rigidly securedthereto in any con venient way. Upon the said cylinder are fixedlysecured a plurality of separating elenents constituted by frusto-conicalor dish shaped ring members 7 arranged in juxtaposed relation to oneanother as shown for forming, as it were, a giz-zag or saw-tooth outlineor cont-our, so as to delineate between them grooves or fiutings 7having the shape of isosceles triangles the apices of which are situatedon the cylinder 6, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Each ringmember 7 may be in one piece or formed of a plurality of segments suchas 8 (Fig. 2), such segments being slightly spaced at 9, if required.

The ring members 7 are secured to the outer face of the cylinder (5 inany approved way and preferably so as to be readily dismountable. Theyare formed along their inner edge, i. e., the one which is positionedadjacent the cylinder 6 with slits 10 the purpose of which will beexplained hereinafter. Their outer free edges are united in pairs by anysuitable means such as a flange or a rim whereby annular grainseparating elements having, so to speak, bevelled edges are formed. Eachannular bevel unit might be cast in one piece insteau of being formed bythe juxtaposition of two symmetrical frustoconical rings or else formedof a number of V-shaped segments, as will be readily under stood.

Each of the adjacent bevelled annular separating elements formed eitherof a V- shaped ring or of two juxtaposed frustoconieal rings united bytheir outer edges, as above described, is formed on the whole of itsouter surface with a large number of alveoli or sockets 11, obtainedeither by cutting or during the casting process or by any other suitablemeans. These sockets or alveoli are of sufficient size to convenientlycatch up and separate the proper grains (for instance wheat grains fromoats grains) and are preferably shaped and arranged as shown in Figs. 4and 5, their rectilinear side (4g constituting their front or leadingedge whereas their rounded or convex side (Z constitutes their rear edgeconnected to said leading edge by two rectilinear sides 05 and 0 Thearrows in Fig. at illustrate the direction of rotation of the separatingele ments.

The mass of commingled grains to be separated or sorted is introducedinto the easing 4 through a feed inlet pipe 12 which opens in oneextremity of this casing, the rotation of the shaft 1, cylinder 6 andseparating elements 7 being adapted for conveying the grains towards theopposite e2;- treinity of said casing. The separating ele ments 7 dipinto the mass of grains it travels from the inlet extremity to theopposite extremity of the casing 4, whereby the alveoli. or sockets 11come in close contact with said grains and all grains susceptible ofgetting thereinto (for instance wheat grains) are promptly caught up,taken round by the rotation of the separating elements 7 and dropped offat 13 (Fig. 2) on the opposite side, as the said separating elementsrotate. The grains thus dropping from the alveoli fall on a stationaryor adjustable inclined board 1% and thence into one or more hoppers 15which discharge them into any suitable receptacles. As to thegrains-that have not been caught up by tren'iity of the casing at (seeFig.

into the cylinder 6 itself.

the alveoli owing to their size or shape (such as oats grains) they aregradually pushed longitudinally from any of the grooves 7 into thefollowing ones and through the spaces 9 between the adjacent ringelements if the latter have a segmental structure by obliquely disposedblades 16 thrust into the slits 10 formed in the said ring elements 7.Such refuse grains finally reach the left ex- 1) and are dischargedthrough a suitable cnute (not shown) by the rotation of the screw 1.made fast on the end of the shaft 1.

As above explained, the formation of the separating or sorting alveolion the contiguous faces of the ring members 7 has the great advantage ofeonsiderablv increasing the number of the said alveoli for a determinedvolume of the apparatus, by comparison with grain separators wherein thealveol i are formed either directly in the outer face of a rotatingcylinder such as 6 or, in such in'iproved separators as above referredto, on discs or screw-blades fixed on a rotating longitudinal shaft suchas 1. By the provision of juxtaposed frusto-conical ring members 7forming annular elements delineating between them ii-shaped grooves orflutings 7, the separating capacity of the apparatus is largelyincreased, the volume of the said apparatus remaining substan tiallyunchanged, whilst at the same time the provision of the said grooves 7ensures a thorough intermixing and stirring of the grains which togetherwith the formation of the alveoli 11 on obliquely disposed surfacesstill further facilitates the getting of the proper grains thereinto andenhances the output of the apparatus.

According to the further embodiment of the invention illustrated inFigs. 8 to 10, the ring members 7 are arranged internally of theirsupporting cylinder (3 instead of being arranged externally as in thefirst embodiment above described. The construction is simplified owingto the fact that the outer casing t may thus be dispensed with since themass of commingled grains is fed In the construction represented in thedrawing, said cylinder 6 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 1 and isdriven by a belt 18 passing around its pulley-shaped outer end wall 6.Plates 19 and 20 are fixedly secured upon the shaft 1 for formingdust-tight seals.

The commingled grains are fed into the cylinder 6 by the inlet pipe 12and are brought into the V-shaped grooves or fiutings 7 by inclinedscoops 21 secured to the inner face of said cylinder. As in the firstconstructional embodiment, the grooves 7 are delineated by juxtaposedfrusto-conical rings 7 either in one piece or made up of a plurality ofsegmental portions 8 spaced apart if required. The ring members 7 areformed on their outer faces with sockets or alveoli conveniently shapedand arranged as shown in Figs. l and 5 and adapted for catching up theproper grains (wheat grains for instance) and dropping them off at theopposite side where they are'discharged.

The refuse grains (oats grains for instance) which have not been caughtup by the alveoli due to their size or shape are pushed from any of thegrooves 7 to the following ones by the obliquely disposed blades 16thrust in the slits 10 formed in the ring members 7 and finallydischarged at the end of the cylinder; 6 through peripheral slots 22(Fig. 8

The discharging device for the grains that have been caught up by thesockets or alveoli 11 conveniently comprises a stationary arcuate trough23 hung by clamping collars 24: from the shaft 1, transversely shaped asillustrated and having its upper edge formed as the teeth of a saw forengaging the gaps between the grooves 7 so as to collect the grainsescaping therefrom; said trough 23 is preferably slightly slantinglengthwise for facilitating the flow and discharge of the grains thuscollected and its angular position in the cylinder 6 is preferablyadjustable by means of an outer lever 26 made fast upon the shaft 1. Thegrains collected in the trough 23 as above explained are conveyed to thedischarging chute 27 secured thereto, for example by a worm actuated bya suitable gearing or, alternately, as illustrated by a second arcuatetrough 28 arranged internally of the trough 23, freely suspended fromthe shaft 1 and having a reciprocating motion imparted thereto by a cam29 fixed upon the end spider 30 of the cylinder 6.

The traversing motion of the mass of commingled grains to be separatedfrom one extremity of the apparatus to the other may be accelerated bymeans of inclined blades 31 fixed under the stationary trough 28 or bymeans of other blades also inclined but in a reverse direction andsecured to the apices of the grooves 7 In accordance with the patentstatutes, the principles of construction and operation of the inventionas well as two convenient constructional embodiments of same have beendescribed. It will however be understood that same is not limitedthereto and that numerous modifications might be introduced withoutdeparting from its scope and spirit as will now be emphasized in thesubjoined claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A grainseparator comprising an outer casing, a rotary supporting cylindermounted in said casing, a plurality of contiguous annular outwardlytapering separating elements arranged successively upon said cylinder,each of said elements being formed by a pair of juxtaposed symmetricalfrustoconical ring members secured at their edges and formed on theirouter surfaces with a large number of contiguous alveoli and means forfeeding grain at one extremity of the casing to a degree to reach thelower portion of the separating elements.

2. A grain separator comprising a driven shaft, a rotary supportingcylinder mounted thereon, a plurality of annular outwardly taperingseparating elements arranged in sequence on and contiguously fixedrelative to said cylinder each of said elements being formed by a pairof juxtaposed symmetrical frusto-conical ring members formed on theirouter surfaces with a large number of alveoli suitably sized and shapedfor first picking up and afterwards dropping off proper grains from themass of commingled grains and a stationary cylindrical casing enclosingthe cylinder and separating elements, said casing being formed at oneend with an inlet for said commingled grains and at the opposite endwith an outlet for the selected grains.

3. A grain separator comprising an outer elongated casing, a rotarysupporting cylinder, and a sequence of contiguous annular outwardlytapering separating elements, each made up of juxtaposed ring memberssecured in pairs at their outer edges, each of the ring memberscomprising a number of segments radially spaced and formed adjacent thecylinder with slits, and angularly disposed blades having their endspassed into said slits for propelling the refuse grains from one end ofthe casing toward the other.

4. A grain separator comprising an outerelongated casing, a rotarysupporting cylinder mounted thereon, a sequence of contiguous annularoutwardly tapering separating elements made up of juxtaposed companionring members secured in pair arrangement by their outer edges, eachmember comprising a plurality of frusto-conical segments radially spacedand formed on their outer surfaces with a large number of alveoli.

5. A grain separator comprising an outer elongated casing, a rotarysupporting cylinder mounted thereon, a plurality of contiguous annularoutwardly tapering separating elements arranged in pairs of ringmembers, and secured together at their outer edges, each ring memberbeing formed on its outer surface with a large. number of contiguousalveoli formed to present a rectilinear front edge and a convex rearedge, the size of the alveoli being determined by the size of the grainto be sorted.

bers being secured at similar edges to the cylinder and formed on theirouter surfaces with a large number of contiguous alveoli havingrectilinear leading edges and convex following edges, and means forsupporting ,a mass of grain into which the separating elements may bemoved in the operation of the cylinder.

7. A grain separator comprising a rotary supporting cylinder, aplurality of annular outwardly tapering separating elements secured bytheir outer edges to the inner face of said cylinder, juxtaposed andunited by suitable means along their inner edges and formed on theirouter surfaces with a large number of contiguous alveoli for catching upand afterwards dropping off and separating out the proper grains from amass of commingled grains, an inlet pipe at one extremity of saidcylinder, peripheral discharging slots for the refuse grains at theother extremity of said cylinder and a discharging device for the sortedgrains constituted by a stationary arcuate trough preferably slightlyslanting longitudinally and extending underneath the shaft on which saidcylinder is mounted, the upper edge of said trough being saw-toothshaped for engaging the grooves between the separatlng elements andcollecting the grains dropplng from their alreoli, and a conveyor insaid trough.

pushing the said grains towards the outlet.

8. A grain separator comprising a shaft, a rotary supporting cylindermounted there on, a plurality of annular outwardly tapering separatingelements fixed by their outer juxtaposed edges to the inner face of saidcylinder and formed on their outer sur faces with a large number ofcontiguous alveoli for sorting the proper grains from a in a ofconnningled grains fed at one er:- tremity of said cylinder, adischarging trough located axially underneath said shaft for collectingthe proper grains dropped from the alveoli and a second conveying trougharranged in the first named trough, freely suspended from said shaft andhaving a reciprocating motion imparted thereto by a cam rigidly mountedupon the said cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES JEAN-BAPTIST}: VlGUERlE.

